Portland Mountain Rescue

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Lost Hiker on Mt. Hood near Mississippi Head

Lost Hiker on Mt. Hood near Mississippi Head

January 10, 2015

 

On January 10, the subject, a middle-aged man, was hiking above Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood.  He intended to hike to Silcox Hut and planned to return to Timberline Lodge around 6:000 p.m..  The subject was not an experienced hiker and was not well equipped for winter back country travel.  He went considerably off course and wandered into the area near Mississippi Head west of Timberline Lodge at about 6700’.  Lost, cold and faced with darkness, he called 911.

 

Around 9:00 p.m. , the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office requested PMR to help locate the subject and help him back to Timberline Lodge.  The subject’s cell phone lost battery power, but his coordinates were obtained from his 911 call.  There was some question about whether the subject was still traveling or remained near the location of his 911 call.  So four search teams from Timberline Pro Ski Patrol, Pacific Northwest Search and Rescue and Portland Mountain Rescue were deployed in an effort to locate him.  The PMR team entered the field around 1:00 a.m. on the morning of January 11.

 

At approximately 2:15 a.m., the Ski Patrol team made voice contact with the subject near the location indicated by his 911 call.  He had taken shelter from the wind behind a large rock.  They provided him warmer clothing and an ice ax, but progress was very slow due to the snow and ice conditions.  When the PMR team returned to base around 3:30 a.m., the deputy in charge assigned them to deliver snow shoes and crampons to the ski patrol team, which they did.  The Ski Patrol and PMR teams escorted the subject to Palmer chair lift where a snow cat picked them up and carried them to Timberline Lodge.  All teams and the subject were safely out of the field around 7:00 a.m.

 

PMR often is called to assist hikers or climbers on Mt. Hood who were not properly equipped for their trek.  Conditions above tree line on Mt. Hood can change from temperate to cold, wet and windy to raging blizzard in just an hour or two.  We encourage all hikers and climbers to prepare for the worst possible conditions and to be equipped to stay out overnight.

 

 

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Triangle Moraine Rescue Mission

Triangle Moraine Rescue Mission

January 7, 2015

 

Two climbers, a father and son, had climbed the south side of Mt. Hood and were descending near the base of Crater Rock.  The surface was icy.  Father’s crampons were loose or broken and he lost purchase on the ice.  He slipped and slid fast toward Triangle Moraine for about 200 feet.  Another climber who witnessed the fall was the first to reach father.  He was banged up from hits on the rough ice surface and appeared to have a head injury.  The climber and son determined that a rescue was necessary and called 911.  They moved father to a location just below Triangle Moraine at about 9500’ elevation.

 

Around 9:20 a.m., the Clackamas County Sheriff’s office contacted PMR and requested an evacuation. A team of two AMR Reach and Treat medics were first to the scene and worked to stabilize the patient.  The first team of four PMR rescuers was in the field by around noon and a snow cat had them to the top of the Palmer around 12:35 p.m.; they reached the patient around 1:05 p.m.  They assisted in stabilizing the patient and readied the patient for transport.  A second PMR team of four rescuers carrying more gear followed and assisted with transporting the patient.

 

Weather conditions were favorable, and the evacuation was straight forward.  PMR teams turned the patient over to Timberline Ski Patrol at the top of the Palmer lift who skied the litter down to the Timberline parking lot.  All rescuers were out of the field at 3:30 p.m.

 

PMR reminds climbers that Mt. Hood requires technical gear and climbing skill for a safe climb under most conditions.  Crampons and boots designed for technical mountaineering are necessary.  And make sure your crampons properly fit your boots and are securely attached.

 

Triangle Moraine Mission

PMR’s first team begins to assemble the litter, while assessing the patient.

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Crater Rock Rescue

On October 3, 2014, a 27 year-old male visiting from St. Louis set out from Timberline Lodge to climb Mt. Hood. The day was clear and unseasonably warm, and the individual was wearing only gym shorts, a T-shirt and running shoes. He had with him a warm hat and an insulated jacket. He had very limited climbing experience.

On his way up the mountain, he encountered a Chris Carter, a climber who was descending. Mr. Carter observed that the subject was lightly equipped. He exchanged cell phone numbers with the subject. He also took a photograph of the subject as he began ascending the southwest gulley on Crater Rock (see below).

20141003_crr1

The subject apparently climbed to a point in the gulley where he did not feel he could safely go further up or descend. He eventually called Mr. Carter and explained his predicament. Mr. Carter then called 911 and reported the subject’s call for help and his limited equipment. After the call to Mr. Carter, the subject’s cell phone batteries died.

20141003_crr2

Around 6:30 p.m., the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office requested Portland Mountain Rescue to rescue the climber. By 9:15 p.m., a PMR team of five rescuers and two AMR Reach and Treat medics left Timberline. They were transported first by truck and then by snow cat to the top of the Palmer Lift. Under clear skies, they ascended to Crater Rock. Aided by the photographs provided by Mr. Carter and a bright moon, they located the subject. Approaching the subject required climbing in the dark through an area with dangerous rock fall potential. Two rescuers climbed to the subject’s position and reached him around 12:30 a.m. Saturday morning.

The subject had moved from the gulley to a slightly more secure point and hunkered down behind some old boards he found near the historic engine left many years ago on the mountain. Temperatures were in the low 40’s or high 30’s, so the subject was cold, but had no injuries. The rescuers warmed him with a heating blanket and provided him food, warm clothing, a helmet and a harness. They then helped him around Crater Rock to the standard south side climbing route.

The remaining rescuers rappelled from a point lower on Crater Rock, and the groups reunited below Triangle Moraine. They escorted the subject to the top of the Palmer Lift by 2:30 a.m. and arrived at Timberline Lodge at 3:15 a.m. Saturday morning.

The subject was very fortunate that he encountered Mr. Carter earlier in the day and that Mr. Carter thought to photograph the subject’s position in the southwest gulley on Crater Rock. Otherwise, the subject could have been extremely difficult to locate. The subject is also fortunate that unseasonably warm and fair conditions prevailed through the night.

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Big Lava Flow Search

In September 2013, two friends were exploring the Big Lava Flow south of Goose Lake in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. They were searching for a lave cave amongst the exposed lava flow. The two became separated and the surviving friend was unable to find the missing friend. The search effort was eventually terminated in 2013 with the missing individual presumed to be deceased.

During the week of September 8, 2014, the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office planned a new search of the area and requested Portland Mountain Rescue to assist in the difficult terrain. On the first day PMR lead two teams totaling 37 searchers from many regional search and rescue units. They completed a coarse grid search of a large portion of two search units near where the subject was last seen. On the second day, PMR lead a single team of 21 searchers from three regional search and rescue units. They performed grid searches immediately around the point where the subject was last seen.

During these searches, we were reminded of how difficult navigation can be in rough terrain like an exposed lava flow. We also were reminded how easy it can be to stumble and suffer serious injuries around rough lava rocks. Such areas are beautiful and worth exploring, but only for experienced back country users with excellent navigation skills, and then only if they stay close together.

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Lost Hiker Mt. Rainier National Park

On July 12, 2014, Edwin Birch (64) and his son Zack Birch (37) started a day hike of a section of the Wonderland Trail around Mt. Rainier. Edwin dropped off Zack at the Summerland Trailhead, from which Zack hiked south alone. Edwin drove on to the Olallie Creek Trailhead, where he parked the car and proceeded to hike north. The two planned to meet on the trail, transfer the car keys to Zack and then rendezvous where Edwin would exit at the Summerland Trailhead. They met at the Ohanapecosh Park area and then continued on their separate ways. Zack made it to the Olallie Creek Trailhead around midnight and then drove the car to the Summerland Trailhead, but his father never arrived. He reported his father missing around 1:30 on the morning of July 13.

On July 14, Mt. Rainier National Park request assistance from Portland Mountain Rescue. PMR deployed a team of four rescuers early on July 15. From the Sunrise parking area, a Chinook helicopter transported the PMR team to the Ohanapecosh Park area. After commencing a search of their assigned area, the PMR team was reassigned to another area. This required an overnight bivouac and bushwhacking through difficult terrain. Completing this assignment consumed the full extent of daylight on July 15. The team finally made it out to a road for pickup around 8:30 p.m. that night.

Meanwhile a second PMR team of two searchers reported to the search area on July 15. They joined a rescuer from Seattle Mountain Rescue and another from Central Washington Mountain Rescue to attempt a search an area near the Ohanapecosh River. Due to difficult terrain and bushwhacking, they were unable to reach their final objective, but searched a possible exit route for the subject. They were out of the field around 8:00 on July 15.

After additional days of searching Edwin Birch has not been found. The National Park Service has transitioned to a “limited continuous search”. PMR encourages hikers who become lost to back track if they can confidently do so. If you cannot confidently backtrack and you know someone will be looking for you in the general area, stay put or move to an area that is higher or clear where you can be easily seen or heard. Traveling off trail can be dangerous, doing it alone is even more dangerous, especially with the added stress of feeling lost.

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